It's school holiday, so that means horse riding and more .... horse riding. Mary planned a last long ride through the desert, with Paula, Dorien and Els, who will look after Mirinda after we leave. Last week they have been preparing the horses by making long rides in the desert and fields (and using this as an excuse to go to Saqqara twice a day!). Early this morning they were picked up by Els and drove to the stable where Reda was waiting already. Unfortunately one of the horses, Nour, had a small injury and couldn't go. In the end Mirinda (with Els), Adham (Paula), Humphrey (Dorien), Mr Small (Mary) and Batuta (Reda) went on the trip.
They went into the desert first, the Adham/Paula team leading the way. They passed the Abu Sir and Saqqara pyramids, and after a few uncontrolled canters ended up at the Cairo-Bahariya railway, the furthest point. Last time (read the post of 19 December 2009) they continued to the Dahshur Black Pyramid, but today there was no back-up team (with water and food for the horses) and also it was Els' first long desert ride. They stopped at the edge of the desert between some palm trees for a small snack of carrots and fruit bars. Then they turned towards the fields and followed the December route back to the stable. In the first village large numbers of obnoxious kids made the horses restless, Mr Small panicked a bit and Batuta reacted with a high kick, right on Mary's hand. It's a bit blue and swollen, but she claims it doesn't bother her (yet). After 5 hours on the road the horses got a deserved shower and loads of carrots and bersim, and it looked like some of the riders were more tired than their mounts. Now a day of rest and off to Luxor.
Mirinda and Els in the desert, with the Abu Sir pyramids in the background
Adham and Paula resting at the edge of the desert
Riding back through the fields
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